Improvement in telegraphic repeaters



PATENTED JUNE 2, 1868.

W. G. BROWNSON.

TBLBGRAPHIG REPBATER.

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W. G. BROWNSON.

TELEGRAPHIG REPEATER.

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VWALTER c. RoWNsoN, or WELLSVILLE, onto..

Letters Patent No. 78,573, dated June 2, 1,868,

IMPROVEMENT internamente Essences'.

ro ALL WHOM ,1r MAY coNcERN:

.Beit known that-I, WALTEit G. BROWNSON, of Wellsville, in-the county'ef' Columbienn, and Stute of Ohio, iiuve invented a. new und improved Telegraphic Apparatus, und method of operating the seme; and I do hereby declare the following to be a. full and exact description thereof', reference lezing-had toA the accompanying dreivings, forminga part of this specification, in whichv l Figure 1. is on elevation, pnrtinlly in section, of my improved telegrsphi'c key or circuit-breaker.

`Eigure 2 a plan, and" Figure 3 u central longitudincl section of my improved receiving-instrument` Figure 4.1L plan, andl Figure 5 a. eentralplo'ngitudinul section of my improved repeater.

Figures 6 and 7, di'egrems, illustrating the effect and operation pf my invention.

Similar letters indicate like parts in all of the figures. Y

The netureof my invention consists inso constructingand combining the various instruments in an electromagnetic. telegreph system for the reception and transmission of tclegraphic signals, cs that- First`,`tlie moin circuit shell be kept constantly closed by the key or circuit-bren`ker when at rest.

Second, with the main circuit closed bybthe key when at rest, the usuel movements of scid key in .writing shall, by opening instead ol"v eiosing the main circuit, produce, unnounceremd repent, 'in thcru'sunl mnner, and without'reversal, thecustomory signals upon the' Sounders, registers, und repeaters of the apparatus;

Third, the local battery-circuits of the apparatus shell 'oe closed 'by the opening of the mitin circuit, and opened by the closing thereof. f

It relates also to the form and construction oi' the key or circuit-breaker; to the position und arrangement ofvtlie'insulnted and connecting points, in combinationvwith lthearmature-levers of the receiving-sounder, registering, relay, and repeating-magnets, und to the connection of local circuit-wires therewith; to the` general construction of the repeating-instruments, and tothe combination of mnin and local circuit-wires thereWithL end, specially, toimproved.edjustingpests in the repeating-instruments, end an improved switch for cutting out the local and main circuittherefrom` v In the accompanying druwings, iig. 1, illustrating my improved key, A represents its lever, pivoted in the usual manner between pillars b b, upon e base-plete, B, provided with screws sind nuts c?, to` secure it to the table C. The shorter end c is fitted vvith e. screw-connecting point, tipped with platina. e, und which rests upon c. platine. point projecting from an insulated o.nvil, 7". The constant contact of the platina tip e with the platina.

point ofthe unvilf, when the key is at rest, is secured by menne of n spring, g, interposed between the longer v crm c of the lever and the baseplete B. This spring serves e. double purpose by forming o. conductor between the lever and its buse-plate, for the passage' ofthe electric current. The key is provided with the usual finger; button D, and c. rest, h, projecting from the buse-plate.

The wires,"l, 2, forming thc mein circuit, are connected and secured, the one to the insulated onvilf, the other to the base-plate B of the key. Y.

When the key is at rest, (as illustratedin fig. 1, and diagram, iig.`6,`) the spring Vg, maintaining byits' force n. contact of the lever with the envilthrough the platinoi4 connecting-pointent 'c und f, .closes the circuit'througli. the Wires l and 2, the lever A, its spring, g, and hnselplete lieing made toform e part-of seid circuit. Pressev ure appliedi to the button D, lifting the point e from the nnvilf, will breek andvopen the circuit et the operator's' pleasure.

Fig. of the drawings illustrates my improvement in construction of the receiving and sounder-instruments to adapt them to the purposes of my invention. lIt consist-sin so disposing the ordinary insulated and connecting.. points z' and. k, limiting the movements of` the armature-lever E of' the instrument, es that the tension of the' spring Z upon seid levennher it 1s not overcome by the attraction of the nagnet, excited by an electrical cul;- rent from the mein circuit, snail bring,said lever in contact with the connecting-point t', to close thelocel cireuit'through thesame., insteadv of with the insulated point c opening or breakingtho circuit, so that a break in the main c ircuit will instantly close the local circuit bythe tension ot' the spring l, as illustrated in the drawings, figs. 2 and 3, andthe diagram, iig; 7. .l v

. M-y improved repeating-instrument-is illustrated in 'gs. 4 and 5 of the drawings. AThe magnets F and i nrma-tureslever G are arranged and disposed in the usual manner, the lever G being pivoted at m between suit- -nbleppsts H Hf', with its longer arm projecting over the magnets F to a suitable stop, I, and its shorter arm lexten-llingback to a connecting-post, K, provided with-a platinapoint coming into contact with a similar pointl on s'aid shorter arm. l, u A Y f .A t ensionspring,'0, "attached to an arm extending at right angles to the pivot-axis of the lever, serves,by its tension, tokeep the shorter arm ofthe lever constantly in contact with the post lK, when this tension is not overcomoby the superior attractive power of the .magnctsl excited by the electrical current:v oil the local,

Between the pivot-axis ofthe lever and themagnets, and at right angles toits length, -is placed a'connectingspring plate, p, supported at one end by the'post L, and coming in contact at its free end, when the lever is at rest, with a platina vpoint upon a screw, r, projecting vertically through an arm,s, extending'froln a post, M. The peculiarl construction of the post M, with its projecting arui, s, and .vertical 'platina-pointed screw, r, permit-s a nice adjustment of the connecting-springp withvrei'ercnce to the insulated point'of a screw, t, projecting through the lever to strikesaid spring, (when the lever is borne down by the attraction of its mugnet,) and break its contact with the'scrcw r. i

'The lever G and rear -post K- (say of east repeater) are respectively connected with the wires of a local circuit connected with the relay of the second (or west) line, (see diagrams; figs. 6 and 7.) vThe main-circuit wires o flsaid secondA lineare connected respectively with th litists .L and M, so as to be closed through, the' connecting-spring p, whilst the mag'nets F ofthe instrument are placed inthe local circuit connected with the 'rclay'and locall battery of its own line. Hence, with this instrument the main circuit connected thereby is kept y closed when its sounder-lever is at rest,l (see diagram, iig. 6,.) and when the main circutiis opened by the movement of said lever the local circuit of the second line is thereby also opened, (see diagram,l iig. 7,) thel adjustments being so made as that the local shall first be broken, and, in reverse,'the maincircut be first closed by its movements.

In order tao cut out at lpleasure both the inain circuit and second local from the instrument, I use'an' improved switch, constructed of a'plate, P, gs.'4 and 5, of somenon-conducting niaterial, or otberwiseproperly insulated', provided with marm, Q. This plate is pivoted centrally'upon a pin, V, fig. 5, projecting through the'base ot` the instrument, and encircled by a spring, which,A by its tension, shall keep down the plate I rmly yet elastically. Beneath this plate are placed four independent metallic pins or points 1 1 and 2 2, (iig. 5, 'and l dotted lines, iig.' 4,)i'connected respectively in'pairs, 1. and 1, 2and .2', with lthe wires ot'v the main c ir'cuit.from

the' posts L and M', and of the-local from the posts H K.

Uponthe upper side of the plate P are placed transverse strips of metal'it t', provided at each end with metallic pins passing through the plate to'come in -line and contact, each, with one of the points 1 1 and 2 2 in the table below, the' transverse strips t t being so arranged as that when the plate R is placed in a right position,

as phown in iig. 1, the pins 1 and 1 shall each be in intact with the two points pil-ejecting from one strip t, and th pins 2 and 2 with the two points from the other strip t of thev plate P, and a connection bethus formed across through said 'strips between'each pair '111 and 2.- Ilf, however, the plate P be turned out of a right line upo'n its pivot, V, by means ofits arm, Q, the pointsv projecting from its strips will be each removed from the pins below, and all communication k'through the' same be 'at once broken. ',lhe tension of the spring upon thepivot-pin V, insures proper contact between all the pins'and points when they are brought into proper alignment. i i i' The diagrams, figs. 6 and 7, representing east and west lines entering anfodice, with their connected instruments, illustrate 'my invention in the working of these two lines. In diagram, iig. 6, the lines areV represented as idle and the instrumentsat rest.. -When the lines are thus Quiet, the main circuits, east and west, are'both kept constantly closed by the automatic operation of the keys A A.

The contact of the platino points in thekeys renders the connection at all times sure and reliable, and the position of these points of contact and mode of securing the same under the pressure of the spring, render a displacement of the key, or a breakfrom carelessness and inattention, almost impossible. i

While the main circuits are thus closed,.the magnets of the receiving-instruments, 10 and 20, oflhe appa ratus, are kept constantly excited, so as; to attract the armature-levers, (which, in cachinstrumengform part of 'a local circuit,) andretainthem against insulated points, so that. the local circuits all stand open when the lilies are not working, and theirlattex-i'es consequently gain, meantime, instrength and power,- instead oi'bcing. used up, as in the ordinary forms of telegraphic apparatus.

, This feature of my invention is of very gre'at advantage in firealarm telegraphs und in apparatus 'for private lines, which lare thexgreater part of the time idle, and I contemplate the application thcrcoi und of my instru ments, constructed or arranged substantially as herein described, to such telegraphs.

With theli'nes at rest, and the local circuits'all standing open, as represented, the repeating-Sounders G rest open, andthe main circuit consequently remains closed through'the posts L M and connecting-springp of each instrument, all as fullyillustrated in the diagram, fig. 6.

If,.now, with the apparatus at rest, as illustrated indiagram, iig. 6, the operator -upon the line east writes,- when he opens his key it will breakI the east line, releasing immediately the armatures of the east receiving;- magnet 10 and relay 20, (as well-as ofthe east sounder `11,)'so that, their springs shallbring them into contact with the anvils, to ,form a ccnnection'and'closo their local circuits, as illustrated i" `diagram, iig. 7.

isms 3 It will he observed that .an escape on the line, instead of decreasing the register or sounder-force, making it work hard, as with the ordinary relays, increases the sounder-force; that is, it causes the armature to be the more readily released by weakening the attraction thereon, thus making it'work more quickly and easily. With ordinary instruments, the writing through an escape comes too heavy, from the fact that the instruments are operated 'by the close of the circuit, so that the effect of the escape is to weaken the force by which the armature is moved; whereas, with my apparatus, the circuit is opened. by tbc operator inwriting, and un escape, facilitating, as it will, this opening, will make the writing lighten that is to say, the signals will. come -quicker and easier. The current on the line can-vary until it becomes weaker than the springs of the armaturelcvers before it can interrupt the working of the instruments, thus avoiding the necessity of constant adjustment.

In diagram, fig, 7, the apparatus is illustrated working. The eastern operator having, by signal, opened the east circuit, the armatures of thereceiving and relay-instruments 1 0 and 20 are released, thereby closing their local circuits, so that the magnets of the sounder 11 and repcating-instrument 12, becoming excited, will overcome the tension of their retaining-springs, and close their levers.

It will he observed that Ithus cause thesounders'to operate with a closed main circuit in the same manner as in the ordinary open-circuitl systems, and that they are closed'by the magnets instead of by a spring The closing ofthe sounder-lever G in the repeater, causing the insulated pin orscrcw thereof to bear upon the spring-plate p, connecting the posts L and M in thc main circuit of the west line, will open the line ut this point, repeating the signal west, whilst at the same time the local circuit; of thc west repeater is hrpkcn by thc disconnection of the lever G from thc post K, so that the westrepcater will meanwhile remain quiet, und the possibility ofa break and interruption ofthe cast line from the West, while east'is working, prevented.

When the main lines are cut oil` from the instruments, or the oi'ce closed for the .duy, the springs on the relays should be let down so as to allow the levers to rest on the insulated points,and keep their local circuits open, or the local circuits maybe disconnected, and opened by means of a switch.

' The improved switch P, figs. 4 and 5, serves to cut out the repeater whenever it may be desired.

Having thus fully described my invention, I do not claim broadly the operation of tclegraphic signal and repcatiug-instruments hy means of a closed main circuit, to be opened by a manipulation of the key or circuithren-ker; but y What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. So combining the local circuit, influencing and operntinga. registering, repeating, or signaldnstrument in an electro-magnetic telegraph system, with a receiving or relay-instrument on a main circuit in said system, as that said local circuit shall stand open when the main circuitis closed, and vice versa, all substantially in the manner and for thepurpose herein set forth.

2. An electro-magnetic telegraphic relay or receiving-instrument, so constructed as that the contact of itsarmature-lever with a suitable connecting conducting-point to close a local circuit, shall he broken, and the local circuit therehyopened when the receiving-magnet becomes excited, all substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein set foi 3. The combination and arrangement of the armature-lever cfa tclcgraphic repeating-instrument with the wires of the local ci'rciit, and a. connecting and conducting-post in said circuit, so ns that the local circuit shall be closed through said lever und post when the magnet attracting said lever is inactive, all substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein set forti;

4. So combining the connecting-device in a repeating-instrument whereby the main circuit is closed, with an insulated pin upon the armature-lever thereof, as that said main circuit shall be opened when the magnet or' the instrument is excited', all substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein set forth.4

5. The improved connecting and conducting-post M in my repeating-instrument, when constructed with a horizontal arm, s, carrying an adjusting-scrcw and connecting-pin, r, and combined with an elastic metallic strip, p, from a second conducting-post, L, to open and close an electrical circuit, all substantially in thc manner and for the purpose herein set forth. l

6. The tclcgraphic switch P, constructed of an insulated pivoted plate, provided with metallic strips, each so disposed thereon as that, by a proper alignment thereof, a connection may be formed thereby between any two detached pins or points beneath the plate communicatirg with the'ivires of electro-magnetic batteries, to be broken by turning the plate upon its pivot, so as to change the alignment, all substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein set forth.

7. My'improvcd key or circuit-breaker. so constructed'as that when at rest, thc main circuit connected therewith shall be closed thereby through its lcver, its base-plate, -and :in insulated anvil, substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein setI forth. x A

The foregoing spcccation of myimprovcments in tclegraphic apparatus signed by me, this fourth luy oi' February, A. D. 1868. -v

W. G. BROWNSO.

i Witnesses:

D. C. Snam., S. B. Swim. 

